Maryland Truck Accident Lawyer: Fatal Tractor Trailer Accident in Westminster

            Last Friday, a tractor trailer collided with a car on Route 27 in Westminster.  Both vehicles quickly caught fire and the driver of the car could not make it out in time.  The truck hit the car in the intersection of Route 27 and Kate Wagner/Chapel Road. 

            

            Preliminary investigations do not reveal any alcohol involvement or defective maintenance of the tractor trailer as possible causes of the accident.  Although the truck initiated the collision, it still has not been determined who was at fault or the accident.

Truck-involved accidents will almost always result in serious injuries or death.  Due to the size and power of tractor trailers, it is difficult for truck drivers to bring their rigs to a quick stop.  All drivers on the roads and highways should always be extra cautious when driving near, next to, or in front of tractor trailers because there is a greater risk for a serious accident.

            

            Remember, the actions you take immediately after an auto accident will affect your personal injury recovery.  Most crash victims do not understand that an auto accident entails complicated issues, including:

   

   ·         What should never be discussed with the Adjuster;

   ·         The two critical guidelines to follow when seeking medical treatment;

   ·         The method to “get more” for your property damage and an immediate rental car;

   ·         The one document always needed for your lost wage recovery, and other critical accident related         proof;

   ·         The three essentials for building and evaluating the case for pain and suffering compensation.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed in a truck accident caused by the fault or negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney for free, contact us at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Westminster or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/Truck-Accidents/

Maryland Car Accident Attorney: Employee Spotlight February 2016

Mandy Liu, one of our bilingual legal assistants, has been at Portner & Shure for more than 6 months.  Mandy is originally from Guangdong, China before she moved to the United States in 1997.  She speaks both Mandarin and Cantonese dialects of the Chinese language, in addition to English.  Mandy works closely with our Chinese Department paralegals to be able to assist our growing Chinese client base.

Mandy graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science degree for healthcare management.  Recently in 2014, she was married.  Travelling and learning different languages are two things Mandy enjoys.  In addition, she loves playing badminton and watching her favorite television shows.

Maryland Auto Accident Attorney: Recent Case Result February 2016

A case that began about one year ago finally settled this month.  In February last year, our client was crossing Lost Knife Road in Gaithersburg, Montgomery County, Maryland.  She was in a well-established crosswalk when the Defendant driver failed to pay proper time and attention and struck our client.  With the force of the impact, she fell to the ground and began experiencing intense excruciating pain throughout her whole body.  As a result of her injuries, she was rushed to the hospital and quickly transferred to Shock Trauma due to the severity of her injuries.

            

            Preliminary examination revealed numerous fractures.  Our client endured surgical procedures to repair her injuries, and was forced to stay at Shock Trauma in recovery. 

            

            With well over $100,000 in medical expenses and substantial pain and suffering, Mr. Portner and our paralegal on the case, Christine Airey, worked tirelessly in negotiations with the insurance company.  Ultimately, typical crosswalk liability issues were resolved, and the carrier offered the amount of the policy: $250,000.

           

             Ms. Airey spent weeks going back and forth with doctors and hospitals to try and reduce the medical bills for our client.  After a tremendous amount of work negotiating, Ms. Airey lowered our client’s medical expenses by more than $50,000.  In other words, in addition to any recovery from the $250,000 settlement, our firm was able to net our client an additional $50,000 from bill reductions.  Mr. Portner notes, “Oftentimes, this part of the case is the most difficult and is overlooked by less experienced personal injury lawyers.”        

Maryland Car Accident Attorney: What Clients Are Saying February 2016

“Thank you so very much Mr. Portner and Mrs. Ruhl....not to mention Rebecca Dean. I got more than I ever thought possible when I stepped into their firm they told me I would be taken care of and they followed through with that. My company I was working for was covering up the fact they had put a claim out and made my own insurance company pay for the accident I had while working for them. Portner and Shure got me the income I needed for my family and so I can start a life again. Thank you so very much.”

This case was handled by our Paralegal, Rebecca Dean, who works out of our Columbia, MD Office.

Maryland Car Accident Lawyer: MD State Plow Driver Seriously Injured in Accident with SUV

           Last night, a Maryland State Highway Administration snow plow driver was standing outside his truck at Ridge Road and Hoffman Drive.  An SUV was driving by and hit the plow driver, resulting in life threatening injuries.  Police are still investigating the cause of the accident to determine who was at fault and if any charges need to be filed against the SUV driver.

           

           It is unclear where exactly the plow driver was standing when he was hit—was he standing on the side of the road, was he standing in the middle of the road.  These types of accidents happen far too frequently on highways when drivers are pulled over on the shoulder, get outside of their car, and another driver hits them.  Even when something like this occurs on a main road as opposed to a highway, the effects are just as bad.  A driver standing outside of his or her vehicle is never safe and should always stand as far away from travel lanes as possible.

            

          It is also unknown whether the SUV driver was distracted while driving, under the influence of alcohol, or simply just did not see the truck driver.  The police investigation will make these determinations.

If you or a family member have been injured or killed in a Maryland pedestrian accident and would like to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Columbia or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Personal-Injury/

Maryland Car Accident Attorney: What You Need to Know About Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

All over the United States, courts disagree about whether claims for negligent infliction of emotional distress should be recognized.  Many states choose not to recognize this type of claim unless there was a physical injury as well, or at least an impact.  Other states will allow a person to make this type of claim if they can show that their emotional distress resulted in a physical injury.  The courts further disagree on what signs or symptoms qualify as a physical injury.

Maryland has quite a permissive rule on claims for negligent infliction of emotional distress.  Years ago, Maryland courts used to require a strict physical injury to result from the emotional distress.  Later, the modern rule was adopted which held that the “injury” resulting from the emotional distress could be a “mental state capable of objective determination.”  To succeed in a negligent infliction of emotional distress claim in Maryland, typically you need to show that the effect on the individual’s functioning was extremely severe, or in the nature of posttraumatic stress syndrome.

Virginia, on the other hand, requires strict proof of a physical injury or actual physical manifestation of emotional distress.  Virginia courts go further to require that the physical manifestation not be a typical or expected result of mental distress.  This means that things like anxiety attacks and uncontrollable crying do not qualify.

Maryland Car Accident Lawyer: Important Steps to Remember for Safe and Responsible Driving

             The last week, Maryland drivers have been battling snow and ice on the roads.  As the mounds of snow begin to melt and everyone gets back into their normal driving routines, it is important to remember to drive responsibly.

    ·         Maintain your vehicle: All vehicles require regular service to keep the vehicle on the road longer and to prevent any safety concerns.  Important parts such as tires, brakes, lights, wipers, and fluid levels are crucial for driving safely on the road.  Without proper maintenance, your chances of getting into an accident are much higher.

    ·         Stay focused and keep distractions to a minimum:  it is extremely important to pay attention to the road in front of you as well as the other vehicles surrounding you.  Distractions such as cell phones, passengers in the car, and music can lead to an accident.  Do not text or talk on the phone while driving.

   

    ·         Avoid driving recklessly: The most common reckless driving behavior and leading cause for fatal accidents is speeding.  Speed limits are in place for one reason: safety.  When drivers go well above the speed limit, they have very little control over their vehicle.  Another form of reckless driving is tailgating.  We have all been stuck behind one of those cars that drives under the speed limit and you cannot get around them.  Many of us think the best thing to do is drive very close to their bumper because we think it will make them drive faster.  That simply is not safe at all because if that car stops suddenly, it is impossible for you to stop without hitting them.  It is always important to maintain a safe distance between your car and the car in front of you, especially in wet weather.

    

    ·         Always wear your seatbelt: The one safety device in a car that saves the most lives is the seatbelt.  Countless accident victims were either seriously injured or killed because they were not wearing their seatbelt.  These devices were created in order to protect people in the event of an accident.  If you do not use your seatbelt, there is nothing stopping you from going through the windshield.

If you or a family member have been injured or killed in a Maryland car accident due to the negligence of another person and would like to consult an experienced personal injury attorney for free, contact our office at (301) 854-9000 to schedule an appointment at one of our office locations in Rockville or throughout Maryland or visit us online at http://www.portnerandshure.com/Auto-Accidents/